Chapter 127: New Residents Join

Nearly eighty thousand mouths, the food consumed each day, is an astronomical figure.

Although Xuanwu City's current food reserves are still fairly ample, the sudden influx of so many people still puts considerable pressure on it.

Of course, this isn't the main issue; if necessary, he can exchange some food from the System Mall.

Most importantly, it's the security issue.

Human hearts are the most complex and hardest to fathom, especially in the apocalypse.

Over eighty thousand people, from more than ten different shelters, a mixed bag of all kinds—every sort of person is present.

With Xuanwu City's current Black Tortoise Guard, trying to manage such a huge crowd is almost an impossible task.

If mishandled and a riot erupts, it would be a devastating blow to Xuanwu City, which has just gotten back on track.

"Looks like it's time to bring out that set of management methods from before the apocalypse..."

Lin Yue's fingertips lightly tapped the smooth tabletop, his eyes flickering with the light of thought.

Village, town, county, city…

This layered, progressive grid‑based management model is undoubtedly the most effective way to manage a huge population, and also the most mature solution.

Divide these eighty thousand people into units of two thousand each, forming forty "villages".

Each village elects its own village head and management team, responsible for the village's daily administration, production and construction, and security.

Then, group ten villages into a "town", establish a town government to coordinate and oversee the development of all villages.

Finally, group four towns into a "county"…

This way, he only needs to firmly control the top‑level power structure, and he can effectively manage over eighty thousand people at minimal cost.

Moreover, this model can greatly stimulate the initiative of the grassroots populace.

After all, who doesn't want to be an official? Who doesn't want to rise above others?

As long as we give them a ladder to climb, they will unleash unimaginable energy for their own futures and for the honor of their village/town.

Having figured all this out, Lin Yue's lips curled into a confident arc.

He raised his head and looked at Han Ya, who was waiting quietly beside him.

Tell Old Li, his request—I approve it.

"Ap‑proved… approved?!"

When Old Li heard this news from Han Ya, he was completely dumbfounded; he never expected Lin Yue to agree so easily, and he even wondered whether his nerves were causing auditory hallucinations.

"My Lord City Lord… really… really agreed?"

He asked again, his voice trembling.

"The City Lord's word is law."

Han Ya looked at his lost‑and‑dazed state; her usual clear, water‑like eyes flickered with a rare smile, but she quickly hid it.

"Old Li, since the City Lord is willing to give you this chance, I hope you won't let him down."

"No way! Absolutely not!"

Old Li jerked upright, snapped back to awareness, and hastily patted his chest to promise.

"Please tell Minister Han, City Lord! I, Old Li, and the brothers from Suchen, would rather lay down our lives than betray the City Lord's trust!"

Having said that, he bowed deeply toward Han Ya and in the direction of the City Lord's mansion.

…

The next two days were, for the entire Suchen wasteland, days worthy of being recorded in history.

Under the personal leadership and coordination of Old Li and more than ten original shelter leaders, an unprecedented mass migration got underway.

"Hurry up! Move it, damn it! Don't dawdle!"

"Every vehicle that can run, get them out! If it won't fit, have people carry it! Use stretchers to lift!"

"Remember! Aside from essential supplies, throw away all the junk! Once we reach Xuanwu City, we'll have everything!"

Around Suchen, in the dozens of shelters big and small, everywhere buzzed with frantic activity.

The survivors dug out all their stored belongings, then, under the leaders' direction, carried out the final preparations for boarding in a tense but orderly manner.

Xuanwu City!

The city that exists only in legend, a paradise on earth!

They, at last, are going there!

When those nearly eighty thousand survivors arrived by vehicle at the foot of the Black Tortoise, everyone was utterly stunned by the sight before them.

"Good heavens… is this… really Xuanwu City?"

"Mom! Look quick! Wow… what a huge turtle!"

A little boy about five or six, held in his mother's arms, pointed at that massive creature and shouted excitedly.

"Yes… son, we… we're saved… we're finally saved…"

"Too… too magnificent!"

In the crowd, gasps and sobs rose and fell everywhere.

However, once they actually stepped into Xuanwu City, they realized how impoverished and laughable their earlier imaginations had been.

"This… the road here… is actually flat?"

An old man stepping on the wide road paved with high‑strength concrete, feeling the solid sensation underfoot, couldn't believe it and pressed down hard with his foot.

In his shelter, the so‑called "road" was merely a patch of packed‑down dirt that turned into a muddy quagmire whenever it rained.

"Hey look! What… is that? Is it… a building?!"

Someone pointed to the rows of newly built two‑story houses in the distance, his voice full of awe.

In their view, an apocalypse dwelling was just a shack cobbled together from scrap copper, iron and torn cloth, barely keeping out wind and rain—and that was already considered a great fortune.

But here… there are actually such beautiful, sturdy houses!

"Water! It's clean water! Good heavens! There's actually flowing, clean water here!"

A woman, upon seeing the clear, bottom-visible stream in the roadside irrigation channel, became so excited she knelt directly on the ground, cupped the stream water with both hands, and frantically poured it into her chapped lips.

The icy, sweet sensation made her cloudy eyes instantly brighten.

These scenes, for the long-time residents of Xuanwu City, were already commonplace.

But for those survivors who had struggled desperately on the wasteland for years, it was no less than a divine miracle!

……

In the City Lord's mansion, inside the top-level command chamber.

Lin Yue gazed at the distant square surging with crowds, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

The influx of nearly eighty thousand people instantly filled this originally somewhat empty city with vitality.

Although it also brought some administrative troubles, overall the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.

"City Lord, everyone has been settled."

Han Ya's voice came from behind.

"Mm."

Lin Yue nodded, then turned, his gaze falling on the massive holographic sand table in the center of the command chamber.

"The population issue is settled. But next, how to manage well over eighty thousand people is the real test."

Lin Yue's fingertip lightly traced across the sand table,

"I have decided: with two thousand people as one 'village', establish a village committee, elect its own village head and management team, responsible for the village's production, construction, and security."

"With ten villages, i. e., twenty thousand people as one 'town', establish a town government, elect one town mayor, four deputy mayors, and twenty clerks, responsible for coordinating the town's development planning."

"With four towns, i. e., eighty thousand people as one 'county'..."

With each sentence Lin Yue spoke, Han Ya and the two others' eyes brightened a bit.

"Of course, with our current population, we barely qualify as a 'county'."

Lin Yue said this, the corner of his mouth curling into a confident arc.

"But who can say for sure what the future holds?"

PS: New book, please urge updates, please collect!